Users of the Juridical Information System, 1978

The survey forms part of a four-stage project, the collective title of which is 'Det Juridiske Informationssystem' (The Juridical Information System). The four stages are: #1. An examination of research, studies and projects in this field which have been carried out in other countries. This phase of the project was concluded on 8 December, 1976 with a report entitled: Det Juridiske Informationssystem og Datateknikken (The Juridical Information System and Data Technology). #2. A user survey, the main aim of which is to examine how the existing juridical information system functions. #3. A pilot project, the aim of which is to examine in practice the interrelation between the juridical information system and data technology. #4. Submisssion of proposals (development and action programmes) for improving the juridical information system. #The present survey, the user survey, which is stage two of the project, examines the problems experienced by lawyers and judges in connection with the retrieval of relevant legal information: #a) Obtaining a comprehensive view of the existing legislation. #b) Gaining access to all relevant information. #c) Ensuring that the relevant information is made available at short notice. #These problems are mainly caused by the fact that the information on existing legislation is of considerable dimensions, that it is difficult to obtain, and that it is not always publicly promulgated. #The questionnaire contains the following groups of questions: # 1. Occupational questions concerning the respondent, e.g. seniority, main occupation, size of place of work (questions 1-4). # 2. Place of work of lawyers and judges, degree of specialization (questions 5-8). # 3. Sources used for keeping up to date professionally: the Gazette (Lovtidende), the weekly Law Reports, professional periodicals, conversations with colleagues (questions 9-14). # 4. Time spent on juridical information retrieval and type of retrieval: a) retrieval in order to confirm correct use of source, b) looking for amendments of already known sources, and c) looking for new, hitherto unknown, information (questions 15-18). # 5. The meaning of various sources, e.g. legal decisions, legal notices, circulars (questions 19-22). # 6. The use of juridical information sources, and assessment of their usefulness and completeness (questions 23-25). # 7. Methods of retrieval, direct retrieval in law texts, key word indexes, or other (questions 25-27). # 8. The effectiveness of the method used, whether all relevant information is obtained, whether the work is delegated to others, the physical location of the information sources in relation to the place of work, and the type and form of the information needed (questions (28-36). # 9. The need for juridical information and the time limits within which the information is needed (questions 37-39). #10. Assessment of the need for an information centre from which all relevant information could be obtained; how frequently would the respondent use such a centre (question 40)